Medical students of the Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma have taken to Twitter to protest an undertaking that means some of them could remain in the school for over 12 years while waiting for a space to complete their program, yet paying full tuition fee all the while.
The 300-level medical students said they were given an undertaking to sign while they were writing their Part 1 MBBS exams.
According to the undertaking, the students were required to agree to three conditions.
It reads: “I hereby undertake as follows:
“1. After my Part 1 MBBS (Professional) Examination, I will undertake an 18-month intercalated BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology in the College of Medicine.
“2. I will wait until anytime there is space for me to proceed to Clinical (400 Level) before I will do so.
“3. I will continue to pay school fees as a medical student.”
The students were also told not to protest against the school, irrespective of how long they have to wait to proceed to year 4.
The undertaking reads: “I will adhere to the following undertaking and will not involve myself in any form of demonstration/protest or any other act that may tarnish the image of the College and the University.”
Signing the undertaking means that students have agreed that their program, which should take 6 years for them to graduate as doctors, could take more years as they wait until after the 300 level for whenever the school will have space for them to continue to 400 level. It also means that while they wait, they must continue paying school fees.
The students are also required to undergo an 18-month BSc program in Anatomy or Physiology after 300-level as they wait for whenever there will be space for them to continue to the 400 level.
Some students of the school have complained that their 6-year medical school has now turned to 12 years and they are still waiting while paying school fees. Some students said they were forced to leave the school and start afresh in another institution.
Unfortunately, the students said they have no choice but to sign it, otherwise, they will not be allowed to take their 300-level exams.
After the students expressed outrage, the undertaking was modified but the new document is not much different from the previous one.
